William “Bill” Ralph Pardue, 96, passed away on April 21, 2026. Born August 6, 1929, Bill lived a long life marked by steady devotion to family, faithful service to his country, and a work ethic that never sought attention yet earned deep respect.
Bill graduated from Scotts High School with the Class of 1946, beginning a life defined by responsibility and quiet determination.
He met Mariam Sherrill Pardue at a square dance at Wayside School and they married in Statesville in 1953, despite Mariam’s insistence that she would never “marry a little red head boy.” Together they raised two sons, David and Neill, on Mariam’s family’s farm.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Bill served aboard the USS Rendova and continued his commitment through five years in the Navy Reserves. His sense of duty carried into his working years. Bill retired from JC Penney’s after 42 years of service, including 26 years spent traveling to various manufacturing plants—work that reflected his reliability, perseverance, and pride in doing things the right way. He was also an honorary Kentucky Colonel.
Bill spent his retirement swinging on their patio and helping his lovely wife care for the garden and many flowers around their home. He was fondly referred to as Papaw, Pop, Pappy, and sometimes even William Ralph. Bill and Mariam are remembered by their grandchildren for quilts and peacock feathers, the smell of sweet bubby bushes, cracking black walnuts in the woodshop, playing all four pianos in the house at once, and dancing “curtsy” at the end of their driveway as a farewell.
Bill was a former member of Race Street UMC and later became a member of Bethlehem UMC.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mariam Sherrill Pardue; father, Sherman Columbus Pardue; mother, Ina Lee Jurney Pardue; daughter-in-law, Meredith Brawley Pardue; brother, John Gilbert Pardue; and his grandson, Joshua Pardue.
He is survived by his sons, William David Pardue (Roxanne) and Sherrill Neill Pardue (Tonya); sister, Shirley Lee Pardue White; sister-in-law, Evelyn Calloway Sherrill; granddaughters, Sarah Beth Keller (Lee), Amanda Kay Loring (Mark), and Kendell Pardue Tuttle (Spencer); great-grandchildren, Ethan, Daniel, Levi, (mother Chelsea Medina), Meredith, Ty, Cole, Lincoln, Myers, Collins, and Frannie; and Lauren, Kyle, Ella, Cody, Michael, and Heidi.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on April 27, 2026, to celebrate Bill’s life at Bethlehem Methodist Church Cemetery in Statesville with Pastor Matt Nichols officiating.
Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 (www.hoic.org), or to The Gardens Assisted Living of Statesville, 2147 Davie Avenue, Statesville, NC 28625.
Words of condolences and messages of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com
Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville is honored to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Pardue and his family.